Archive for the 'CAM Interactions' Category
Wednesday, November 28th, 2012
Dr. David Bailey from the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, reported the “grapefruit effect” more than 15 years ago.
Now, Dr. Bailey and coworkers at the University of Western Ontario tell us that while 17 drugs were identified in 2008 as having the potential to cause serious problems when taken with grapefruit, this number has now grown to 43. (more…)
CAM Interactions, E. DIETARY | Comments Off on Expanding the list of drugs that interact with grapefruit juice
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
Berberine is used to treat gastrointestinal infections, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol. Many studies report interactions between berberine-containing products and cytochrome P450, but little is known about whether berberine alters CYP activities in humans.
Researchers at the Xiang Ya School of Medicine, in the People’s Republic of China, studied the effects of berberine on a series of drugs and P450 enzymes after repeated dosing. (more…)
Berberine (Goldenseal), CAM Interactions | Comments Off on Potential for berberine to cause drug interactions
Thursday, October 13th, 2011
Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, in Boston, are the first to evaluate changes in the cholesterol-lowering effects of atorvastatin (Lipitor) in patients with high cholesterol taking stable doses atorvastatin while drinking typical quantities of grapefruit juice. (more…)
CAM Interactions, Cholesterol/Lipids, Liver Disease | Comments Off on Final word on the statin-grapefruit juice interaction?
Monday, September 12th, 2011
Researchers in the US reviewed the incidence and severity of potential interactions between prescription medicine and dietary supplements. (more…)
CAM Interactions, Garlic, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Saw Palmetto, Vitamins | Comments Off on Risk of drug interactions with dietary supplements
Friday, September 9th, 2011
Tolvaptan (Samsca) is used to treat hyponatremia — too little sodium in the blood.
Patients with heart failure, liver problems (eg, cirrhosis), and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) may have hyponatremia. (more…)
A. ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, CAM Interactions | Comments Off on Grapefruit interaction with tolvaptan
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Researchers from the Cheyenne Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Wyoming report that when taken together, 1 patient experienced bleeding from the blood “thinner” warfarin (Coumadin). (more…)
Bleeding Disorders, CAM Interactions, Marijuana (Cannabinoids) | Comments Off on Marijuana interaction with warfarin reported
Friday, May 20th, 2011
It’s a long list compiled by researchers at RMIT University in Victoria, Australia. (more…)
CAM Interactions, St. John's Wort | Comments Off on Drug interactions with St John’s wort
Friday, May 6th, 2011
During the American Heart Association meeting, Dr. Jennifer Strohecker, at the Intermountain Medical Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah, reported that documentation of supplement use in the medical chart is poor. (more…)
Bleeding Disorders, CAM Education, CAM Interactions, Herbals | Comments Off on Use of herbal supplements by people taking blood thinners
Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
Not much, according to researchers in Spain. (more…)
CAM Interactions, Echinacea, HIV/AIDS | Comments Off on Does Echinacea interact with HIV drugs?
Friday, April 22nd, 2011
“The warning that there is a potential to enhance the effect of warfarin… with cranberry juice intake is mostly based on faulty reports.”
That’s the conclusion by researchers at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City. (more…)
Bleeding Disorders, CAM Interactions, Cranberry | Comments Off on The final word on the warfarin-cranberry interaction?
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
Ask about the grapefruit/drug interaction and most people think of the increased blood levels of statins when grapefruit is eaten before taking a dose.
Now, Dr. David Bailey at the University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario, has reviewed fruit juice interactions that result in lower drug blood levels. (more…)
CAM Interactions, E. DIETARY | Comments Off on Lowering drug blood levels with grapefruit juice: When’s it significant?
Sunday, March 13th, 2011
Real and hypothetical concerns exist.
Dr. Mark Moyad (photo), who is Director of Preventive and Alternative Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, puts it into perspective. (more…)
CAM Interactions, Garlic, Ginkgo, Kava, Saw Palmetto, St. John's Wort, Vitamin D | Comments Off on Do we overhype drug-supplement interactions?
Saturday, January 22nd, 2011
Aliskiren (Tekturna) is used to treat high blood pressure. It’s poorly absorbed from the intestines (about 2.5%).
Researchers at Helsinki University Central Hospital, in Finland, report that apple and orange juice further reduce the amount that gets absorbed from the intestines. (more…)
CAM Interactions, E. DIETARY, High Blood Pressure | Comments Off on Interaction between aliskiren and fruit juice
Thursday, January 6th, 2011
Shengmai-yin (Sheng Mai Yin Pian) is a concentrated Chinese herbal medicine used to “treat a deficiency of vital energy and Yin, palpitation and shortness of breath, faint pulse, and spontaneous perspiration,” according to ActiveHerb.com.
Researchers at Zhejiang University, in Hangzhou, China report a patient who appeared to suffer from an interaction with warfarin (Coumadin). (more…)
CAM Interactions, Chinese Medicine, Stroke | Comments Off on Interaction between Shengmai-yin and warfarin
Sunday, December 26th, 2010
It’s suggested that honey may stimulate the CYP3A enzyme, and this might alter the metabolism of drugs.
Researchers in Germany studied the effect of repeated honey administration on human CYP3A enzyme activity using the benzodiazepine drug midazolam (Versed). (more…)
CAM Interactions, Honey (incl Medihoney) | Comments Off on No effect of honey on intestinal and hepatic CYP3A
Sunday, November 7th, 2010
Researchers at Central South University, in Hunan, China studied the effect of curcumin (turmeric) on drug metabolizing enzymes.
Their findings suggest a risk for curcumin-drug interactions. (more…)
Caffeine, CAM Interactions, Turmeric | Comments Off on Risk of curcumin-drug interactions
Sunday, November 7th, 2010
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) presented to congress the results of a “secret shopper” investigation, which found that in some stores, salespeople made inappropriate or illegal claims about dietary supplements.
What to do? (more…)
CAM Education, CAM Interactions, CAM Politics, Consumer Alert | Comments Off on Do you trust advice from your local supplements sales clerk?
Saturday, November 6th, 2010
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota have listed drugs to avoid when taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex) to treat breast cancer, but they omit reference to herbal supplements.
A study from the University of Arkansas helps correct their oversight. (more…)
Berberine (Goldenseal), CAM Interactions, Cancer | Comments Off on Herbals and the risk of an interaction with tamoxifen
Sunday, October 3rd, 2010
Researchers from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Republic of Korea studied Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and found no interaction with the blood thinner, warfarin (Coumadin). (more…)
Bleeding Disorders, CAM Interactions, Ginseng | Comments Off on The ginseng/warfarin interaction debate
Friday, October 1st, 2010
Losartan (Cozaar), which is used to treat high blood pressure, is metabolized by liver enzymes CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 to an active metabolite, E-3174, which has greater antihypertensive activity than Losartan itself.
We also know that soy extract activates CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 in the lab. Should we worry about a soy-drug interaction? (more…)
CAM Interactions, Flavonoids (Soy), High Blood Pressure | Comments Off on Does soy interact with losartan?